Automatic Transfer Switch Installation
Kochs Electric installs automatic transfer switches that keep your power running when the utility grid fails — no manual intervention, no downtime. We provide professional electrical services and reliable power security solutions for homeowners, business owners, and facilities across Indiana – with the quick response every outage situation demands.
5 Highlights on Automatic Transfer Switch Installation
- Seamless power continuity — An automatic transfer switch detects utility loss and transfers your load to a standby generator within seconds, keeping critical circuits energized without manual switching.
- Code-compliant wiring — Every ATS installation follows NEC Article 700 and NFPA 110 requirements, with properly rated conductors, labeled panels, and permitted work signed off by a licensed inspector.
- Single-phase and three-phase capability — Kochs Electric installs transfer switches for residential single-phase services and commercial or industrial three-phase switchgear configurations.
- Full load protection — Each installation includes properly sized circuit breakers, fused disconnects, and overload protection to guard your generator, utility feed, and downstream panel from fault conditions.
- Tested and commissioned — After installation, every ATS gets load-tested, voltage-verified with a calibrated multimeter, and cycled through automatic and manual modes before the job closes.
Why Choose Our Automatic Transfer Switch Installation
Kochs Electric brings qualified journeyman and master electricians to every automatic transfer switch installation. Our crew doesn’t subcontract the work – every job is done the right way. The same licensed electricians who pull the permit wire the ATS, terminate the conductors, torque the lugs, and commission the system.
We work with open and enclosed transfer switches across NEMA-rated enclosures for weatherproof and indoor applications. While commercial projects often involve large switchgear and three-phase configurations, we also offer modern residential and smart home backup solutions. Whether you need a 200-amp residential bypass switch or a 3,000-amp commercial switchgear-integrated ATS, we size the electrical equipment correctly the first time.
Every automatic transfer switch installation we complete includes a full schematic diagram, labeled conductors, and a torque log. That documentation protects you during inspections and future service calls.
Our master electricians hold current state licensure and carry full liability insurance. We pull permits on every job. We don’t skip the inspector. That process protects your property, your generator warranty, and your insurance coverage – and helps you avoid unnecessary costs down the line.
Kochs Electric has installed transfer switches for hospitals, data centers, commercial buildings, and residential standby systems. We’ve handled utility-side coordination, load calculations, and generator compatibility checks across all of those project types. Our quality work and customer reviews reflect the standard we bring to every project. You get expert installation backed by real field experience.
Signs You Need Automatic Transfer Switch Installation
1. You own a standby generator with no transfer switch wired in: A generator sitting on a pad without a connected ATS delivers zero protection during an outage. Without a properly installed transfer switch, you’d need to manually disconnect from the utility, start the generator, and backfeed your panel — a process that creates serious electrocution risk for utility lineworkers and violates NEC 702.
2. Your current transfer switch is manual: Manual transfer switches require someone on-site to physically move the switch from the utility position to the generator position. If an outage hits at 2 a.m. or while the building is unoccupied, your load stays dead. An automatic transfer switch detects the voltage drop, signals the generator to start, and transfers the load without any human input.
3. You’re running extension cords from your generator to appliances: This is a code violation and a fire hazard. Conductors routed through windows or doors bypass your panel’s overcurrent protection entirely. A properly installed ATS routes generator power through your existing panel with full breaker and fuse protection on every circuit. This is the smart, code-compliant solution for homeowners running whole-house generators.
4. Your facility has critical loads — servers, medical equipment, refrigeration, or sump pumps: These loads can’t tolerate even a brief interruption. An automatic transfer switch with a fast-transfer relay keeps the transition time under 10 seconds. Some solid-state ATS units transfer in under 16 milliseconds for truly sensitive equipment.
5. Your existing ATS is tripping, failing to transfer, or showing fault codes: An ATS that won’t transfer under load, fails to re-transfer back to utility, or trips its control relay is a system that can’t be trusted. Kochs Electric troubleshoots transfer switch faults, inspects contactor wear, tests solenoid operation, and replaces failed units with properly rated equipment.
Our Automatic Transfer Switch Installation Process
Step 1 — Load assessment and equipment sizing. We calculate your total connected load, identify critical circuits, and select an ATS rated for your service amperage and voltage. We confirm generator compatibility before ordering equipment.
Step 2 — Permit application. We pull the electrical permit with your local authority having jurisdiction. No work starts without approved documentation.
Step 3 — Utility and generator de-energization. We apply full LOTO procedures — lockout tagout on the utility disconnect and generator breaker — before any conductors are touched. PPE and voltage detectors confirm dead circuits before we work.
Step 4 — ATS mounting and conduit installation. We mount the enclosure, run conduit from the utility feed, generator output, and load panel, then pull properly sized copper conductors through each raceway.
Step 5 — Termination and torquing. We terminate all conductors at the ATS lugs, neutral bus, and ground bar. Every lug gets torqued to manufacturer specification and logged.
Step 6 — Testing and commissioning. We energize the system, simulate a utility outage, verify automatic transfer, confirm voltage and frequency on both sources, and cycle the bypass switch. We walk you through manual override operation before we leave.
Brands We Use
Kochs Electric installs automatic transfer switches from the most trusted manufacturers in the electrical industry. We source equipment that’s UL-listed, NEMA-rated, and compatible with the generator brands our customers run.
- Generac
- Kohle
- Cummins
- Eaton
- Square D by Schneider Electric
- Siemens
- ABB
- Briggs & Stratton
- Asco Power Technologies
- Thomson Power Systems
We don’t install unlisted equipment, and we don’t wire generator connections that bypass proper overcurrent protection.
Other Services
| Automatic transfer switch installation | ATS installation service | Generator transfer switch wiring |
| Transfer switch installer | Standby power transfer switch | NEC-compliant ATS installation |
| Automatic transfer switch for generator | Generator automatic switchover | Load transfer switch electrician |
| Commercial ATS installation | Three-phase transfer switch installation | Utility to generator transfer wiring |
| Residential automatic transfer switch | Home generator transfer switch install | Emergency power transfer switch setup |
FAQs About Automatic Transfer Switch Installation
What is an automatic transfer switch?
An automatic transfer switch is an electrical device that monitors your utility power supply and transfers your building’s load to a standby generator when it detects a voltage loss or frequency deviation. It transfers back to utility power once the grid stabilizes, then signals the generator to shut down.
How long does ATS installation take?
Most residential automatic transfer switch installations take four to eight hours and can often be completed in one day. Commercial installations involving three-phase switchgear, conduit runs through finished spaces, or utility coordination can take one to three days depending on scope.
Can I install a transfer switch myself?
No. Automatic transfer switch installation requires a licensed electrician and a pulled permit in virtually every jurisdiction. Improper wiring creates backfeed risk for utility workers and violates NEC 702. Kochs Electric handles the permit, the inspection, and the full installation.
Does an ATS work with any generator?
Not automatically. The ATS must be matched to your generator’s output voltage, amperage, and phase configuration. We verify compatibility during our load assessment before we order equipment.
How does an automatic transfer switch differ from a manual transfer switch?
A manual transfer switch requires a person to physically move the switch from utility to generator position. An automatic transfer switch detects the outage and completes the transfer without any human input, which makes it the right choice for unoccupied buildings, critical loads, and overnight outages.
What size ATS do I need?
ATS sizing depends on your service amperage, the loads you want to transfer, and your generator’s rated output. A 200-amp residential service typically uses a 200-amp ATS. Commercial facilities may require 400-amp, 800-amp, or larger units. Kochs Electric performs a full load calculation before recommending equipment.
Does Kochs Electric pull permits for ATS installation?
Yes, always. Every automatic transfer switch installation we complete includes a permit pulled with the local authority having jurisdiction and a final inspection by a certified electrical inspector.